Parents upset with decision on school uniforms

TEWKSBURY TWP. Parents converged on the Board of Education
Wednesday, Nov. 15, demanding to know why the board didn't
implement a school uniform policy despite holding a survey which
showed parents favored requiring students to wear some form of
school uniform.

In a three-question survey held last September, 173 parents
called for mandatory uniforms provided by a uniform company; 98
called for a specific dress code such as a certain style shirt and
pants, while 117 parents opposed the proposal altogether.

Resident Rachel Sperdutl got the ball rolling by asking why the
board held a survey in the first place when the results weren't
going to be followed.

Board President Jean Frankel, who said she voted for the dress
code in response to the voter survey, pointed out the board's
decision was made only after a lengthy conversation.

Alluding to the board's recent split vote to not implement a
school uniform, board member Terri Crosbie said the board must
weigh in many factors beside the results of a survey before making
a decision.

She added that surveys aren't voting ballots, and that only half
the school district was surveyed.

Crosbie noted that the board's policy committee would discuss
the dress code issue and then forward a recommendation to the full
board for discussion and a final vote.

Sperdutl, though, was not satisfied with the answer, saying she
spoke for many parents who were upset but were not present at the
meeting. She predicted that parents aren't going to bother to vote
in the next board survey because apparently it means
nothing.

Board member Betty Catanese said she voted against school
uniforms because the majority of those surveyed either only wanted
to tighten the code or wanted no specific dress code, and the
motion called for implementing a full dress code uniform in the
township's public school next September.

Resident Antonella Carfagnini said many parents felt that their
opinions didn't count because board members had their own
agenda.

"Many people in the community felt some board members are there
for their own agenda and didn't care what people think," she told
the board. "The board should respect the majority vote."

When resident Angela Cherami asked what the board's next step
will be, Catanese said the policy subcommittee will recommend to
the full board what constitutes appropriate dress.

Resident Sherrie Gultz said the issue was not the dress code,
but that the board didn't follow through on the results.

"You took the survey and then you reneged on the survey," she
said.

"I think we got our point across," Sperdutl told the board,
adding that parents want a letter from the board explaining not
only what it will do regarding the dress code survey but also
explain why they have surveys.

Afterwards, Crosbie said the policy committee will be meeting
shortly, and added that surveys are only a part of the total
decision-making process.

"There was a small percentage of parents who actually answered
the survey," she said, adding that the board had to deal with many
questions unresolved by the survey, such as the legality of
uniforms and the necessity of uniforms.

Crosbie said that the policy committee will try to tighten up
the dress code and ensure there are consequences to infractions of
the code. From there, the subcommittee will take its
recommendations to the board for a full discussion.

Board member Dana Desiderio called for the uniforms, arguing
they would break down social barriers between those who dress more
stylishly, and allow students to concentrate more on
academics.

Opponents have argued a school uniform is just not needed and
that it impinges upon a student's individuality.

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